The Use and Abuse The Use and Abuse of Psychoactive of Psychoactive

DrugsDrugsChapter 9Chapter 9

•A drug which alters a person’s A drug which alters a person’s experiences or consciousnessexperiences or consciousness

•Can cause intoxicationsCan cause intoxications– A state in which sometimes A state in which sometimes

unpredictable physical and emotional unpredictable physical and emotional changes occur.changes occur.

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•HabitsHabits that have gotten out of control, with a that have gotten out of control, with a resulting negative effect on a persons health.resulting negative effect on a persons health.

•AddictionAddiction is the habitual use of a drug is the habitual use of a drug produced chemical changes in the user’s body.produced chemical changes in the user’s body.

•Drug Addiction (four important characteristics)Drug Addiction (four important characteristics)1.1. Compulsive desireCompulsive desire

2.2. Need to increase the dosageNeed to increase the dosage

3.3. Harmful effects to the individualHarmful effects to the individual

4.4. Harm to societyHarm to society

•Drug Habituation (habit)Drug Habituation (habit)

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•ReinforcementReinforcement•Compulsion or CravingCompulsion or Craving•Loss of ControlLoss of Control•EscalationEscalation•Negative ConsequencesNegative Consequences

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•Often starts to bring pleasure or to Often starts to bring pleasure or to avoid pain.avoid pain.

•Harmless or even beneficial if done in Harmless or even beneficial if done in moderationmoderation

•Examples of addictive behaviors:Examples of addictive behaviors:– GamblingGambling– Compulsive ExercisingCompulsive Exercising– Work AddictionWork Addiction– Sex and love addictionSex and love addiction– Compulsive buying or shoppingCompulsive buying or shopping– Internet addictionInternet addiction

• Characteristics of people with additionCharacteristics of people with addition 5

•Drugs are chemicals other than food that Drugs are chemicals other than food that are intended to affect the structure or are intended to affect the structure or function of the bodyfunction of the body– Prescription medicinesPrescription medicines– Over-the-counter substancesOver-the-counter substances

• CaffeineCaffeine• TobaccoTobacco• AlcoholAlcohol

– Illegal substancesIllegal substances

•The Drug TraditionThe Drug Tradition6

•The APA’s Diagnostics and Statistical The APA’s Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Manual of Mental Disorders – authoritative referenceauthoritative reference

•AbuseAbuse– APA definitionAPA definition

• Failure to fulfill major responsibilitiesFailure to fulfill major responsibilities• Drug use in situations that are hazardousDrug use in situations that are hazardous• Drug related legal problemsDrug related legal problems• Drug use despite persistent social or interpersonal Drug use despite persistent social or interpersonal

problemsproblems

– Physically dependent may or may not presentPhysically dependent may or may not present 7

•Substance dependenceSubstance dependence1. Developing tolerance to the substance1. Developing tolerance to the substance

2. Experiencing withdrawal2. Experiencing withdrawal

3. Taking in larger amounts3. Taking in larger amounts

4. Expressing a persistent desire to cut down4. Expressing a persistent desire to cut down

5. Spending great deal of time obtaining5. Spending great deal of time obtaining

6. Giving up or reducing important activities6. Giving up or reducing important activities

7. Continual usage even with recognition of 7. Continual usage even with recognition of a problema problem

•Diagnosed with at least 3 or more Diagnosed with at least 3 or more symptoms during a 12-month periodsymptoms during a 12-month period

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• All income and education levelsAll income and education levels• All ethnic groupsAll ethnic groups• All agesAll ages• Young people are at a higher riskYoung people are at a higher risk• Males (Twice as likely)Males (Twice as likely)• Troubled adolescentTroubled adolescent• Thrill-seekerThrill-seeker• Dysfunctional familiesDysfunctional families• Peer group or family that acceptsPeer group or family that accepts• Low Socioeconomical statusLow Socioeconomical status• Dating youngDating young

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•ExperimentExperiment•EscapeEscape•Reliance Reliance •Residence issues magnifyResidence issues magnify

the problemthe problem

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•Psychological risksPsychological risks– Difficulty in controlling impulsesDifficulty in controlling impulses– Strong need for excitementStrong need for excitement– Feelings of rejectionFeelings of rejection– HostilityHostility– AggressionAggression– AnxietyAnxiety– Mental illnessMental illness– Dual (co-occurring disorders)Dual (co-occurring disorders)

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•Social FactorsSocial Factors– Growing up in a family with drug abuseGrowing up in a family with drug abuse– Peer groupPeer group– PovertyPoverty

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•IntoxicationIntoxication•Side effectsSide effects•Unknown Drug constituentsUnknown Drug constituents•Risks associated with injectionRisks associated with injection•Legal consequencesLegal consequences

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Changes in Brain chemistryChanges in Brain chemistry Drug factors:Drug factors:

– Pharmacological propertiesPharmacological properties– Dose-Response functionDose-Response function– Time-action functionTime-action function– Drug use historyDrug use history– Method of useMethod of use

User FactorsUser Factors Social FactorsSocial Factors

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Chapter NinePsychoactive Drugs 18

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•Opioids (narcotics)Opioids (narcotics)– Natural or syntheticNatural or synthetic

• Opium, morphine, heroin, methadone, Opium, morphine, heroin, methadone, codeine,. Hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine,. Hydrocodone, oxycodone, meperidine, and fentanlymeperidine, and fentanly

– Induce euphoriaInduce euphoria– Methods of administrationMethods of administration

• Injection, snorting, sniffing or smokingInjection, snorting, sniffing or smoking

– Symptoms of overdoseSymptoms of overdose

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Psychoactive DrugsPsychoactive Drugs• Central Nervous System DepressantsCentral Nervous System Depressants

– Sedative-hypnoticsSedative-hypnotics– Effects on the bodyEffects on the body– Types-Barbiturates (Seconal, Nembutal), Types-Barbiturates (Seconal, Nembutal),

Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Rohypnol), Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Rohypnol), Methaqualone, GHBMethaqualone, GHB

– Effects-reduce anxiety & cause mood changes, Effects-reduce anxiety & cause mood changes, drowsiness or sleepdrowsiness or sleep

– Medical usesMedical uses– Big problem with pain clinics in SE Texas (2006-7)Big problem with pain clinics in SE Texas (2006-7)– especially Orange (5-7 clinics in city with only 20,000 especially Orange (5-7 clinics in city with only 20,000

pop.pop.– – – 3 drug problem – Xanax (benzodiazepine), 3 drug problem – Xanax (benzodiazepine), – Vicodin (synthetic opiate), Soma (muscle relaxer).Vicodin (synthetic opiate), Soma (muscle relaxer).– 2005–5 overdose deaths in Jeff. Cnty, 2006 – 58 overdose 2005–5 overdose deaths in Jeff. Cnty, 2006 – 58 overdose

deathsdeaths– New laws and better enforcement have helped reduce New laws and better enforcement have helped reduce

this problemthis problem– Prescription drug abuse is considered the first or second Prescription drug abuse is considered the first or second

biggest drug problem in S.E. Texasbiggest drug problem in S.E. Texas

•Speed up the activity of the nervous Speed up the activity of the nervous or muscular systemor muscular system– CocaineCocaine

•Methods of useMethods of use•EffectsEffects•Abuse and DependenceAbuse and Dependence•Use during pregnancyUse during pregnancy

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COCAINECOCAINE

PROBABLY THE MOST POWERFULLY ADDICTIVE OF THE ILLICIT DRUGS. IT IS A STIMULANT DRUG.

GROWN IN BOLIVIA AND PERU

ONCE USED AS A LOCAL ANESTHETIC BY DENTISTS

VERY EXPENSIVE TO USE

RELATIVELY SHORT ACTING

IF SNORTED, GIVES A FEELING OF EXCITEMENT & OPTIMISM

PROGRESSION – CHEWING LEAVES, SNORTING COCAINE, FREE BASING, SMOKING CRACK

HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH

PROBLEMS WITH COCAINE – VERY HARD ON C.V. SYSTEM, LIVER DAMAGE, IMMUNE FUNCTION DAMAGE, IMPOTENCE, CRACK BABIES, CRIME

BIGGEST OVERALL DRUG PROBLEM IN U.S.

•AmphetaminesAmphetamines• Effects Effects • From use to abuseFrom use to abuse

– State dependenceState dependence

• DependenceDependence– PsychosisPsychosis

– RitalinRitalin– EphedrineEphedrine– CaffeineCaffeine– Methamphetamines – biggest problemMethamphetamines – biggest problem

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•Cannabis SativaCannabis Sativa•THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)•Short term effects and usesShort term effects and uses

– DepersonalizationDepersonalization

•Long-term effects and usesLong-term effects and uses– Respiratory damageRespiratory damage

•DependenceDependence

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MARIJUANAMARIJUANA

GROWS NATURALLY IN MANY PLACES IN U.S.

FIRST USED AS ROPE IN AMERICA

MAJOR ACTIVE CHEMICAL IS THC, WHICH IS FAT SOLUBLE

THE CONCENTRATION OF THC IN MARIJUANA IS MUCH HIGHER TODAY THAN YEARS AGO

EFFECTS AT LOW DOSES SIMILAR TO ALCOHOL, ALSO IMPAIRS SHORT TERM MEMORY, CAUSES EYES TO REDDEN, INCREASES HUNGER

MEDICAL USES – REDUCTION OF NAUSEA ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY (VERY CONTROVERSIAL), HELPS STIMULATE HUNGER, REDUCES EYE PRESSURE, OTHERS. 13 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE (IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAWS)

LONG TERM EFFECTS – LUNG DAMAGE, OTHERS PROBABLE – AMOTIVATIONAL SYNDROME, IMMUNE SYSTEM DAMAGE, OTHERS ?

CONTROVERSY OVER LEGALIZATION

GATEWAY DRUG

•Altered state of consciousness, Altered state of consciousness, perceptions, feelings and thoughtsperceptions, feelings and thoughts

•LSD, Mascaline, DMT, MDMA, Ketamine, LSD, Mascaline, DMT, MDMA, Ketamine, PCP (angel dust), and certain mushroomsPCP (angel dust), and certain mushrooms– Altered states of consciousnessAltered states of consciousness– Impact on proprioceptionImpact on proprioception

•SynesthiaSynesthia•FlashbacksFlashbacks

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– Nearly all inhalants produce effects similar to Nearly all inhalants produce effects similar to those of anesthetics, slow down the bodies those of anesthetics, slow down the bodies functionsfunctions

– Volatile solventsVolatile solvents– NitratesNitrates– AnestheticsAnesthetics– Methods of use Methods of use

• SniffingSniffing• SnortingSnorting• ““Bagging”Bagging”• ““Huffing”Huffing”

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•Drug researchDrug research•Drugs, society, and familiesDrugs, society, and families•LegalizationLegalization•Drug TestingDrug Testing

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Drug TestingDrug Testing

• It is estimated that 10% of the workforce It is estimated that 10% of the workforce use psychoactive drugsuse psychoactive drugs

• Dangers are great in specific job Dangers are great in specific job assignments that all workers should be assignments that all workers should be tested regularly tested regularly

• Most drug tests involve a urine testMost drug tests involve a urine test• Due to the accuracy of tests improving over Due to the accuracy of tests improving over

the years, there are fewer opportunities to the years, there are fewer opportunities to cheat or to yield false resultscheat or to yield false results

• The FDA now has approved home kits for The FDA now has approved home kits for parents to check their children for drug useparents to check their children for drug use

•Medication-assisted treatmentMedication-assisted treatment– Drug substitutionDrug substitution

•Treatment centersTreatment centers•Self-help groups and peer counselingSelf-help groups and peer counseling

– AAAA– NANA

•Harm reduction strategiesHarm reduction strategies•CodependencyCodependency

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CodependenceCodependence

• Applies to those who are close to the Applies to those who are close to the individual who is addicted to individual who is addicted to somethingsomething

• Focused upon protecting or coping Focused upon protecting or coping with the addictwith the addict

• Lose their sense of identity due to Lose their sense of identity due to becoming unaware of their own becoming unaware of their own feelingsfeelings

•Governmental attemptsGovernmental attempts•Anti-drug education programsAnti-drug education programs•Indirect approachesIndirect approaches

– Young people’s self-esteemYoung people’s self-esteem– Improve academic skillsImprove academic skills– Increase recreational opportunitiesIncrease recreational opportunities

•Direct approachesDirect approaches– Information about the adverse effectsInformation about the adverse effects– Peer pressure resistance Peer pressure resistance

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•IssuesIssues– What are the risks involved?What are the risks involved?– Is using the drug compatible with your Is using the drug compatible with your

goals?goals?– What are your ethical beliefs about drug What are your ethical beliefs about drug

use?use?– What are the financial costs?What are the financial costs?– Are you trying to solve deeper problem?Are you trying to solve deeper problem?

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•Bored?Bored?•Stressed?Stressed?•Shy or lonely?Shy or lonely?•Feeling low on self-esteem?Feeling low on self-esteem?•Depressed or anxious?Depressed or anxious?•Apathetic or lethargic?Apathetic or lethargic?•Searching for meaning?Searching for meaning?•Afraid to say no?Afraid to say no?•Still feeling peer pressure?Still feeling peer pressure?

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